To accompany the exhibition, Legacy of Ceylon: Art and Photography of Sri Lanka on view at Phoenix Art Museum November 27, 2021 - April 24, 2022

With more than 50 objects spanning 1,000 years, Legacy of Ceylon: Art and Photography of Sri Lanka provides an unparalleled opportunity for U.S. audiences to experience a selection of rare and outstanding Sri Lankan artworks, many of which have never been publicly exhibited. Viewers will discover the influence of Buddhist and European traditions on the nation’s art history, while gaining particular insight into bronze-casting techniques through small, technically refined sculptures and bronze pieces that weigh more than 50 lbs. Featured works date to as early as the sixth century. The majority, however, span the 16th and 19th centuries, the height of the nation’s colonial period when the island was colonized first by the Portuguese, then by the Dutch, and finally by the British. Collectively, this wide range of works offers deep insight into pre-colonial, colonial, and post-colonial life on the island.

This publication seeks to embrace history, science, aesthetics and education. Thus, the reader will find a photo gallery of rare objects, a thorough historical analysis of the Kandyan period, a detailed examination of the impact of colonialism in a Buddhist society, and an exploration of the bronze-casting process.

Paperback, 165 pages.